Snorkeling Basics

Snorkeling is the least expensive way to participate in exploring the underwater world. It can be done with a minimum investment in equipment. You will enjoy snorkeling anywhere the water is clear enough and shallow enough for you to see the features of the site you want to view. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean you must see the bottom to enjoy snorkeling. For example, in some parts of the world, people swim with whales in water that is hundreds of feet deep, where the bottom can’t be seen, but the water is clear enough to easily watch the whales.

Participating in snorkeling is a good way to see if you are interested in going further and participating in skin or scuba diving. You may decide that you’re only interested in snorkeling, or you may find that snorkeling opens a “deeper” interest in exploring underwater.

Snorkeling, or swimming on the surface with mask, fins, and snorkel, is one of the most relaxing and interesting activities that one can enjoy. With a mask on your face, you can look down into the depths and watch dolphins and fish swimming, sea fans waving, and lobsters and crabs crawling along the ocean floor. With a snorkel (breathing tube), you can breathe without lifting your head out of the water, allowing you to float effortlessly on the surface. With fins, you can swim quickly, efficiently covering a large area with a minimum of effort.

The material presented in Snorkeling Basics is designed to provide the reader with the basic information about snorkeling, snorkeling equipment and proper snorkeling skills and techniques.

The material presented in this online program is designed to act as a primer, or supplement to in-water instruction in snorkeling or skin diving from a qualified diving instructor.